After years of trying, including two runner-up finishes, a third place, two WA Production Sedan Titles and two National Street Stock Titles, Mick Hamon has finally broken through to claim his first Odh Mechanical SSA Street Stock WA Title.
Hamon finished third in the 2009/10 Title at Collie, and sixteen years later he returned to Collie Speedway to do it the hard way. Starting from position twelve in the main event, he charged through the field, took the lead on lap 26, and survived a last-corner lunge to win by a razor-thin margin of 0.093 seconds.
The forty lap final saw Albany duo Peter Herbert and Trent Claybrook share the front row. They hit the line together on the opening lap, with Claybrook getting his nose in front, while Jamie Oldfield swept around the outside to grab third.
Damon Lyall challenged Oldfield but couldn’t complete the pass, as defending champion Jake Hoath advanced from eighth to fifth and began applying pressure to the battle ahead.
Claybrook and Herbert set a strong early pace, hugging the pole line and cruising around through the opening laps.
On lap six, Lyall made contact with Oldfield while attempting a pass, the contact unsettling Lyall and allowing several cars through. Drama escalated on lap eight when Jace Kempton slowed coming onto the front straight, with Chas Skipworth making heavy contact from behind. Further up the straight, Hoath and Ben Norman came together, Hoath spinning and retiring infield, ending his title defence. Kempton and Skipworth were also out.
As the field came across to complete eight laps Kempton slowed and Chas Skipworth went straight into the back of him, while further up the field Jake Hoath and Ben Norman came together, Hoath spinning and retiring infield, his Title defence over, while Kempton and Skipworth were also out.
Out front, Claybrook led Herbert and Oldfield, with Norman fourth and Lyall recovering to fifth after passing Cody Avins.
By lap ten Herbert began applying serious pressure, diving underneath Claybrook, but Claybrook held firm while just behind them Oldfield suddenly slowed and retired infield.
With fifteen complete it was Claybrook leading Herbert, Norman, Lyall and Michael Hamon, with a gap back to the rest of the field, sixteen cars still in the race.
Hamon moved into fourth on lap sixteen, briefly passing Lyall before Lyall fought back. Finally, on lap twenty-one, Hamon made the move stick.
Herbert managed to close the gap and again began looking underneath Claybrook for the lead whilst Lyall faded through the field, Avins moving into fifth. Just as Herbert launched a full attack on Claybrook, the cautions flew for a slowing Peter Dowie. Third-placed Norman also retired under yellow.
Thirteen cars remained on the restart, Claybrook leading away Herbert, Hamon, Avins and Lyall, with Hamon now joining the leading party, diving under both Herbert and Claybrook to take the lead on lap twenty-six.
Shortly after, Claybrook slowed and headed infield. Behind them, Lyall and Avins battled hard for third, making contact. Avins spun in turn one, while Lyall suffered a flat tyre, setting up another restart with thirteen laps remaining, eleven cars left on track, Hamon leading Herbert, Avins, Norman and Shane Whild.
The race lasted just one more lap before Ben Norman found himself being spun around, officials taking some time to restore the order before the race resumed.
Norman rebounded impressively, sweeping around the outside of Avins for third, but a mistake in turn four allowed Avins and Whild back through.
With ten laps to go, Hamon led Herbert by half a second, with Avins, Whild and Paul Briggs rounding out the top five.
A spin from Ash Con-Goo on lap 32 brought out yet another caution, setting up a tense sprint to the finish.
On the restart, Herbert threw everything at Hamon. The pair made contact with six laps remaining, but Hamon held firm. Behind them, Whild and Gavin Minty worked past Avins.
With four laps to go it was anyone’s race: Hamon, Herbert, Whild, Minty and Briggs locked together in a thrilling contest.
With two laps remaining, the top four ran line astern. On the final lap Hamon drifted slightly wide exiting the final turn, giving Herbert one last opportunity. Herbert surged up the inside and the pair raced side by side to the line.
In the end though, Hamon held on, winning by just 0.093 seconds in one of the closest finishes in WA Title history.
Herbert finished second, with Shane Whild third. Gavin Minty and Paul Briggs completed the top five.
Congratulations to all the drivers, and to the entire Collie team for delivering an outstanding event from start to finish. A fantastic crowd and electric atmosphere perfectly matched the quality of racing, making it a truly memorable WA Title weekend.
A Main, 40 laps: 1. W44 Peter Herbert, 2. WA21 Trent Claybrook, 3. W27 Damon Lyall, 4. W0 Jamie Oldfield, 5. W6 Hayden Norman, 6. W2 Shane Whild, 7. W31 Cody Avins, 8. WA1 Jake Hoath, 9. W88 Peter Dowie, 10. WX4 Chas Skipworth, 11. WA4 Matt Hammond, 12. W7 Michael Hamon, 13. W12 Paul Briggs, 14. W8 Daniel Ameduri, 15. W55 Jace Kempton, 16. W66 Ben Norman, 17. WA3 Gavin Minty, 18. WX3 Donny Davis, 19. W100 Linton Dickerson, 20. W4 Ethan Genev, 21. W32 Ash Con-Goo, 22. W83 Stefani Ameduri.
OFFICIAL RESULT
1. W7 Michael Hamon, 2. W44 Peter Herbert, 3. W2 Shane Whild, 4. WA3 Gavin Minty, 5. W12 Paul Briggs, 6. W66 Ben Norman, 7. W100 Linton Dickerson, 8. W31 Cody Avins, 9. W4 Ethan Genev, 10. W83 Stefani Ameduri, 11. W32 Ash Con-Goo. DNF: W27 Damon Lyall (27), WA21 Trent Claybrook (26), W6 Hayden Norman (24), W88 Peter Dowie (24), WA4 Matt Hammond (23), WX3 Donny Davis (13), W0 Jamie Oldfield (10), WA1 Jake Hoath (
, W55 Jace Kempton (, WX4 Chas Skipworth (, W8 Daniel Ameduri (4). Total Time: No Time. Winning Margin: 0.093. Fastest Lap: 20.896 WA21 Trent Claybrook.